This is a Västerbotten substitute for the US market. Västerbotten is the traditional Swedish celebration cheese, which contains sodium nitrate and is banned from the USA. The Scandic Priest Cheese XO is free of this nitrate and is therefore allowed to enter the USA market.

To many Swedes, Västerbotten is considered the "emperor of cheeses," either because of its heft or its full flavor. Produced in Northern Sweden, Vasterbotten is aged for over 11 months and Scandic Priest cheese is a tad younger and thus is dry, reminiscent of a young Parmigiano Reggiano or an aged Cheddar. Its flavor is rich and full-bodied with a tangy, bittersweet bite. Serve it in the Swedish tradition with some ginger snaps and a cup of hot glogg.

This cheese is the finest cheese I've ever had in my life. It's true to the Vasterbottensost that comes from Sweden, but it is slightly modified for importation. The taste is the same great cheese. igourmet has a tough job, importing and distributing hard-to-get items. They mislabled this cheese and sent me Swedish fontina instead. I noticed right away and they immediately made it right! Mistakes happen, and it's how a company reacts that defines them. Good job, guys!

By Jerry Davidfrom Hendersonville, NCon Nov 28, 2017

Delicious, but not Vasterbaaten

Scandic Priest was represented to be a substitute for a Swedish cheese, Vasterbaaten, which had been banned from the US due to one of its ingredients. Scandic was delicious but not very much like Vasterbaaten so we were a bit disppointed.

By AKJohnsonfrom Atlanta, GAon Jul 21, 2017

Love it!

Such a lovely surprise! Especially enjoyed the crunchy salt crystals in this very flavorful cheese. Will certainly buy again.

By Cherie NBfrom Raleigh NCon Jun 27, 2017

Eating this cheese is like eating potato chips

Dad LOVED this cheese I sent him for Father's Day. He said it was so good it was hard to not have "just one more piece!" I'm going to order some for myself since he was so thrilled with it!

By Beth Jfrom Rhode Islandon Jan 02, 2017

Better than expected

This is just like what we can get in Sweden! My husband is thrilled and it is better priced than anywhere I have found. Thanks!

By Jeanette G.Smithfrom Boca Raton, FLon Dec 26, 2016

Service and Product

Service is great. Substitute cheese for vastabotten was very good.

By Dannyfrom Michiganon Dec 24, 2016

Very good cheese

Having traveled overseas from America a few times I have come to appreciate the special flavors of cheeses made in Europe. They have much more character and individual flavor than US processed cheeses. The Vesterbooten (Priest Cheese) is a tangy cheese that seems like a combination of blue cheese and goat cheese, very good flavor.

By E. Gabrielsonfrom Virginiaon Dec 23, 2016

Larger size is needed

The cheese is not as good as Vestobotten but is still a very good cheese. However I expected a large piece since I ordered 3 7.5 ounce pieces - for parties and for taste it would be beneficial to sell larger sizes.

By Annafrom New Yorkon Dec 16, 2016

Not vasterbotten

Marketed as the US version of vasterbotten and it's not the same, very disappointing